A CARE home group is celebrating a successful 2019 as the skills of staff, including nurses and chefs, were recognised at industry awards.

Herefordshire Care Homes has six residencies across the county, with four rated as 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Among the winners was Darren Merry who works at Hazelhurst Nursing Home, near Ross-on-Wye.

Mr Merry attended the National Association Care Catering awards where he was a finalist in the care establishment of the year category.

There was also success at the West Midlands Regional Care Awards.

Among the staff to be recognised was Donna Hendry, from Coldwells House, Hereford, who came out on top in the Dignity in Care category.

The firm's CEO Karen Rogers said: "We get quite excited for it (the awards) every year, and for Herefordshire it's really good to have outstanding care homes.

"Less than 1% of care homes in England are rated outstanding in England and we've got four out of the six in our group.

"I think we try to challenge the perception of care homes.

"People have an incredible life living with us, they use the gym, we take them swimming and there's physiotherapy sessions."